How to Write to Your MP: Justice, Respect and Recognition for Health and Social Care Workers
Health and social care workers are the backbone of our communities. Every day, migrant workers keep the NHS running and provide vital support in homes and care settings across the country. Yet the government’s immigration and labour policies continue to create insecurity, exploitation, and hardship.
That’s why it’s urgent to take action now. MPs need to hear directly from you, about the realities you face, the contribution you make, and the reforms we need.
Writing to your MP takes less than 5 minutes. Here’s how you can do it.
Step 1 – Find your MP
Your MP represents you in parliament. They are elected to listen to you and speak up for your needs, no matter your immigration status.
Click here to find your MP and their email address.
Step 2 – Write your email
It’s always powerful to tell your story in your own words. But you don’t have to start from scratch, use this simple structure.
1. Introduce yourself
Tell your MP who you are, what work you do, and why you came to the UK.
Example:
“I am a care worker. I came to the UK in 2023 on a Health and Care Worker visa, hoping to build a safe and stable life here while supporting the NHS and social care system.”
2. Describe the problem
Share your worries about the challenges in the system. This could be the insecurity of long visa routes, the risks of tied sponsorship, or the impact of poor pay and conditions.
Example:
“At the moment, I face high visa costs and constant uncertainty. The sponsorship system ties me to one employer, making it harder to speak up about poor treatment. Low pay and difficult conditions make it tough to plan for the future.”
3. Tell your MP what you want
Be clear and specific. Here are the three key demands of this campaign:
Keep 5 year qualifying period for ILR for health and social care workers, recognising their vital economic and social contribution.
End exploitation - replace employer sponsored visas with a sector-wide scheme in social care.
Introduce a Fair Pay Agreement - establish sectoral bargaining to improve wages and conditions.
Example:
“Please speak up for health and social care workers. We need a fairer immigration system and decent pay and conditions that reflect the essential work we do.”
Step 3 – Use this sample letter
Here’s a template you can copy, paste, and adapt with your own details:
Subject: Justice, respect and recognition for health and social care workers
Dear [MP’s Name],
My name is [Your Name]. I live in your constituency and I work as a [your job]. I came to the UK in [year] on a Health and Care Worker visa, hoping to build a safe and stable life here while contributing to my community.
I am very concerned about the challenges facing migrant workers in health and social care. At present, many of us face long waits for settlement, high visa costs, tied sponsorship that leaves us vulnerable to exploitation, and poor pay and conditions that do not reflect the value of our work.
As your constituent, I am asking you to:
Keep 5 year qualifying period for ILR for health and social care workers, recognising their vital economic and social contribution.
End exploitation - replace employer sponsored visas with a sector-wide scheme in social care.
Introduce a Fair Pay Agreement - establish sectoral bargaining to improve wages and conditions.
Please raise these issues in parliament and press the government to recognise, respect, and protect the workers who hold up our health and care system.
Thank you for taking the time to listen.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or Postcode]
Step 4 – Share this guide
Once you’ve emailed your MP, don’t stop there. Share this blog with friends, colleagues, and your community. The more of us who write, the stronger our voice will be.
Together, we can push for a system that delivers justice, respect, and recognition for the health and social care workers who keep our country going.